Rating: 
Summary: Don't Buy!!! this if you want to load the pictures onto a PC
Review: I bought a JVC GR-DVM70 when they were hot, shiny, and new. Paid a ton for it too. Camera works good and is small enough to fit in loose pockets. I really enjoy the physical camera. Turns out however, that JVC makes the WORST software in the world. I don't know who their software engineers are, but they wrote (...) software and included it with the camera. Also, my camera is not USB and that is a huge part of the problem. You really should only buy a USB based camera because serial based is extemely slow in transferring images and I can never connect the camera to the computer for downloading stills without having endless problems. Just DON'T buy it (or if you must, buy the one I own).
Rating: 
Summary: After 2 years, so far so good....
Review: I bought the GR-DVM70 in the spring of 1999 and I've had only two minor problems with it. The first is that the standard 1-hour rechargeable battery is now beginning to lose its ability to hold a charge (I also bought a 2-hour battery). The second is that the plastic button that covers the switch that opens the camera somehow popped off. As you can see both of these are minor issues.Other the other hand, I've shot countless hours of excellent video with this camera including the birth of my two children and vacation footage. I've never experienced the zoom/noise problem discussed in the other postings. I've used the digital still feature and the Picture Navigator software to upload photos to my computer and sent them to family and freinds via email. It is true that the resolution of the digital stills is not photo quality but I think it is just fine for computer/internet use. I will admit that the Picture Navigator s/w is somewhat user un-freindly and that the serial link is a slow way to upload digital stills. In addition, Picture Navigator does not run on Windows2000 -- which I now run on my computer. So...I upgraded to another piece of software from Digital Origin called "IntroDV". This software (which runs on Win2000)comes with a firewire card (IEEE1395) which is MUCH faster. It allows me to upload digital stills AND digital video. It comes with a digital video editor so I can edit and transition my sceens, put in titles, and lay down music tracks. Once I've finished editing I can output my resulting movie to a CD in Quicktime format (the Quicktime movie player is free from Apple). I've been doing this with home movies of the kids and sending them back in CD form to family and freinds. This is a lot cheaper than sending VCR tapes! The catch is that your movie recipients will need at least a PentiumII/450MHz computer to watch the video without dropped frames. The video is about 4"x3" on your screen (you can make it larger if you computer has the horsepower to handle it). To make the movies, you will need the same kind of computing power, at leeast a 10Gb hard disk and a CD R/W drive. Overall the camera has performed admirably for me. The only reason I would want to replace it would be to increase the video/still picture resolution; which is probably something I will do in the next few years as the technology gets better and the prices become more competitive.
Rating: 
Summary: Great for small size
Review: I got the JVC DVM-70 from a large dept store. If you are buying the camera for the small size, then this is the one you want. However, after owning for 1.5 years the camera has been in for service multiple times due to a problem of dropping audio & video. Luckily for me I purchased a 3 year warranty at Circuit City, and the camera will get replaced after the 3rd time in service for the same problem. My next camera model will probably be a Sony. Some other drawbacks: -whine sound while recording from zoom motor (as mentioned above) -audio/video dropping problem -MultiMediaCard reading software that comes with the camera isn't very friendly. I recommend getting SanDisk's MultiMediaCard reader from Circuit City or other computer store -Might not work 100% perfect with IEEE 1394 Firewire capture software (such as Ulead/Adobe Premier) (I still have to experiment more with this). However, I have made a few computer videos with the camera while it wasn't in the service shop. - Hard to find underwater casings except for the bag from ewa-marine. Sony has much more support for underwater filming. Like I said, this is the camera you want if the small size is important to you. It takes great pics - both stills and video. But if you want a workhorse that is very versatile, then this model is not the one.
Rating: 
Summary: Goods Camera with not so good software
Review: I have been using this camera for 3 years or so now. The only issue I had with this was the battery was not holding charge so had to buy another battery... The digital still images are ok. The software could have been better.
Rating:
Summary: Best in Class
Review: I have bought more than 8 digital video cameras in the last 3 years, its part of my job, and this one is the one... it is really, really good. Everyone working with me agrees. For personal use, for professional use... its just great. Any doubts contact me: construct.it@mail.telepac.pt
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Camcorder
Review: I love this camcorder, it is small enough to carry anywhere I go. I purchased extra batteries which has increased my ease of use. I have not been able to connect it to my computer as of yet. The instructions from JVC are not the best and their site is no help at all. I emailed them and asked for help and got a really ignorant response. If anyone can give me some help with connecting this to my computer I would really appreciate it!
Rating:
Summary: Sweeeeet!
Review: I really liked this camera because it is so easy to use and all of its awesome features make it even better! If you need a totally spectacular digital video camera at a great price, this is the camera you've been looking for! It's the best consumer video camera on the market today!
Rating:
Summary: Buzz in Audio
Review: I tried two units before giving up on the JVC. The video was OK (not great color) but the audio was fatally flawed. The camera itself generates a 'whine' which is then picked up by the microphone and recorded. Any quiet recordings, when played back, have this buzzing whining sound added; I found it completely unsatifactory. No provision for an external microphone (which would have been a satisfactory solution) is made! Were it not for this flaw I would have been happy with the camera.
Rating:
Summary: JVC Digital video camera
Review: I've had this camera since last Christmas and still cannot operate the software! The Ulead software provided for the video is not user friendly; there are more cords, wires, options and complications with the whole system than the average picture taker can handle. However the picture quality is outstanding.
Rating:
Summary: JVC GRDVM50
Review: I've owned this camcorder for a month...Although please avoid them if possible, they open the box from JVC and change the standard battery for a NiCa battery which lasts only 20mins! Then they charge you extra for the normal battery. Unless you're really on the ball you'll be caught out like me. I cannot believe the nerve of these people! Check out Camcorder & Computer Video mag for other retailers with prices just as good, some better. The GRDVM50 is identical to the grdvm70 except it doesen't have the memory card & built in flash. Firstly, the video quality is superb. For my personal use of creating PC picture albums I find the digital stills perfectly adaquate, one real advantage with the software is even if the still you take is not in great focus you can frame by frame advance and you'll always find in 1 or 2 frames a clear image, just press the capture button on the software and this is the still thats transferred. If you're looking for high quality stills then buy a dedicated digital camera of high cost camcorder like the sony pc100 approx.$1500 street! In a nutshell, this unit is so easy to use and carry around, it's also pretty rugged compared to the plasticcy models from other manufacturers. On the downside, yes you can hear motor whine on the tape when using zoom but to be honest I really don't find it a problem. Wind noise-there is an electronic feature to reduce windnoise. I used this on Millenium Force rollercoaster at Cedar Pt.(Ohio) and it worked fine. The battery doesen't last long, you can buy 1.5hrs (actual) from camera shops. JVC Service & literature don't give me a warm feeling in terms of PC connectivity & what I've heard. Oh yeah, I had a problem with connecting to PC, check under on your PC under'Start,settings,control panel,ports, that the baud rate is 9600' JVC connectivity literature is pathetic considering how easy it actually is to connect. Don't waste time reading the software manuals, just install & use. So..as far as rating goes, I'm not biased, and I'm basically blown away by this little machine considering the price I paid and the overall performance.
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